Elizabeth Joy Levinson

When I began my Earth Expedition in the Galapagos Islands, we were asked to spend some
time writing down what we hoped to get out of the program.  I wrote that I wanted to gain confidence in my ability to influence change and to gain trust in my own ideas.

I live in a highly fraught world, in a neighborhood where we hear gun fire regularly.  While I am shielded in a cloak of white privilege, I work with students who have come to take for granted that the lives of their friends, family members, and even their own lives are disposable.  And often, because of deep concern for these issues, I often fear that my pursuits in conservation work are trivial compared to the work that needs to be done for these communities.  This fear often leaves me feeling conflicted and sometimes even paralyzes my ability to take action.  This uncertainty often leaves me silent.

But in our daily (and nightly) conversations, where my voice was valued as much as anyone else’s, with colleagues engaging in admirable work that also showed interest in my pursuits, I came to realize that this work in conservation is as important as any other social justice work. For instance, consider the teachers who are trying to inspire their students to learn about science and conservation — they are opening doors for their students.  Perhaps this came clear because of our location and our hosts with EPI, who work with local students to create change in their communities, while bringing students from outside of the community to learn about the challenges they face.  Perhaps it is because of the sensitive and nuanced discussions about the needs of community stakeholders outside of conservation efforts.  Or perhaps it was the inspiring stories of the “outsider” scientists who are contributing to major conservation efforts despite their lack of “legitimization” that I worry may hold my own students back in their worlds.

Likely, it was a combination of all of these things.  

I realized on this trip that this work is vital, not only for the ecosystems we wish to save, but for our own society.  Conservation work requires community involvement, which means offering opportunities to bring different stakeholders to the table, which means opening avenues for change.  Valuing the spaces in which we inhabit also requires valuing the lives of those we inhabit those spaces with.  These epiphanies have given me the confidence and trust I need to move forward, knowing that all of our efforts, around the country or the world, will be part of improving the quality of life for all, not just one bird species or rare plant.